The following responses are provided by the Pennsylvania Department Agriculture in regard to general questions about the Pennsylvania State Seed Law.

RELATIONSHIP TO RUSSL
- Does your state seed law model RUSSL?
Answer = YES, for the most part.

PERMIT/LICENSING REQUIREMENTS
- Does your state law have a permit/license requirement for seedsmen to distribute seeds in your state?
Answer = YES, any entity whose names appear on the label must have a Seed License to sell seed in the state - $25.00.

ARBITRATION:
- Does your state offer "Seed Arbitration" as a part of your seed law, or as a separate law?
Answer = NO

PRE-EMPTION LEGISLATION:
- Does your state have “pre-emption” legislation to restrict local political subdivisions from regulating seed?
Answer = YES

BRAND LABELING:
- Does your law allow for "brand name" labeling?
Answer = YES, but must also include "VNS" or Variety Not Stated.

- How does your state handle seed coatings on your seed label?
Answer = Seed coatings can be listed as part of inert matter as long as it is broken out somewhere on the label.

VARIETY LABELING:
- Does your state seed law require "mandatory" variety labeling for agricultural crop kinds?
Answer = YES, only for kinds listed in regulations, same as the Federal Seed Act.

- Does your law allow for "variety not stated" labeling?
Answer = YES

- Does your law allow for "variety unknown" labeling?
Answer = YES

- Do you allow the use of the abbreviated term "VNS" to be used in place of the phrase "variety not stated"?
Answer = YES

- Does your state seed law allow labeling by "crop kind" only?
Answer = YES, if not required by regulation

TEST DATE:
- What are your germination test date requirements for agricultural seed?
Answer = 9 months, and 1 year for small package containers

- What are your germination test date requirements for vegetable seed?
Answer = 12 months - must have a sell by date

- What are your germination test date requirements for lawn & turf seeds?
Answer = 15 months - must have a sell by date

SELL BY/PACKED FOR:
- Does your state law include requirements for "Sell By"/"Packed For" labeling vegetables, flowers and turf grass? If yes, please briefly explain.
Answer = YES, it is permissible to label vegetable and flower seed kinds in containers of 1 pound or less with the statement: "Packed for (YY)" and "Sell by (12/YY)" and an identifying lot number for the calendar year in which they are being offered for sale.

OTHER SEED KINDS REGULATED:
- Does your state regulate flower seeds?
Answer = YES

- Does your state regulate Native/Conservation/reclamation species?
Answer = YES, truth in labeling

GMO REGULATIONS:
- Does your state law have any specific language regulating "GMOs"?
Answer = NO

- Does your state test for specific GMO varietal traits on official samples?
Answer =YES, Roundup on corn soybeans

UNIQUE (MISCELLANEOUS) REQUIREMENTS:
- Does your state seed law have any "unique" or special requirements and/or prohibitions?
Answer = YES, "UGS" 0.50% maximum allowed.